Improvement in folding chairs



-2 Sheets-Sheet 1. G. McALEER. FOLDING CHAIR.

- vPatented June 13, 1876.

ATTORNEYS N PETERS, FHOT HER, WASHINGTON D C G. McALEER.

. FOLDING CHAIR. No.178/791. Patented June13, 1876.

WITNESSES Q INVENTOR 6W7 2 Q 5: c (r2172. 6 74 M /@W' d MW I ATTORNEYS E NZ'PErEnS. PHOTO-LITNOGRAPHER, msmuemw u. c.

2 Sheets-Sheet Z.

UNITED STATES PATENT Grrrcn.

GEORGE MGALEER, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN FOLDING CHAIRS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 178,791, dated J une 13, 1876 application filed April 8, 1876. 1

To all whom it may concern:

Be it. known that I, GEORGE MCALEER, of

Worcester, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and valuable Improvement in Folding Chairs; and do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of theconstruction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon. Figure 1 of the drawings is a representation of a perspective view of my folding chair, and Fig. 2 is a side view showing the chair folded; and Fig. 3 is a side view thereof, showing my chair open.

My invention consists in the construction and arrangement of a folding chair in such a manner that, when folded for transportation or storage, the length of the chair may not be more than one-half the length of the chair when opened out for use, and is composed of crossing leg-frames, back frame, and arms or leg extensions, each part suitably connected by slats and stretches, the whole movably connected by pivot or hinge joints and connecting-links 0r radius-bars, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the annexed drawings, A represents the back of my chair, pivoted on each side to connecting-links or radius-bars B, which are pivoted to the rear legs 0, said rear legs being connected near their lower ends by a round, 0 and at their upper ends by a cross-bar, O, which supports the front of the seat D. Through the lower ends of the connectinglinks or radius-bars B B are passed the ends of the round or stretcher E, connecting the front legs G G near their lower ends. The connecting-links or radius-bars B B are shown with slots, which may be rendered unnecessary by making a pivoted connection, or a connection permitting motion in both directions, where the arm-supports join the legs, or, perhaps more properly, where the joint is formed in its front legs.

When the chair is opened for'use the upper portions of the rear legs G (3 rest upon a round or stretcher, H, connecting the front legs a suitable distance above the bottom round or stretcher E, which may be attached only to the front legs G G at a suitable height, to

support the front of the seat, and may be entirely disconnected from the rear legs 0 G.

The upper ends of the front legs G G are curved backward, and have each an arm-rest,-

J, hinged or pivoted thereto, the other end of said arm-rest being pivoted to the back A. The rear of the seat D is supported by a round or stretcher, A, in the back frame A.

When the chair is folded, the front and rear legs and connecting-links or radius-bars fold close together, and-the joints of the arm-rests are so arranged that the back will fold backward and downward, and the folded chair may thus be only half the length of the chair when open for use.

This folding chair may be made in any suitable manner, so as to make it desirable for all purposes for which an'ordinary camp-chair is used. It may be provided with either a flexible seat, or a folding rigid seat supplied with upholstery or not, as desired, or otherwise made in an elaborate manner for indoor use.

Various modifications may readily suggest themselves, and we do not limit the use of this invention to the precise construction and arrangement shown and described. For instance, the connecting-links or radius-bars B may be pivoted to the front legs, having their upper ends slotted to pass over pins in the sides of back frame; or the irons may be prolonged upward, where they are joined to the back frame, having the slat for the top of the back attacheddirectly to them, and connected at the rear of the seat by upright standards or supports; or the rear legs may be pivoted to the back, and arms extend forward from said legs, in which aims are projecting pins,

over which central slots in the connectinglinks or radius-bars are passed. All of these may be regarded as modifications of a folding chair for which Letters Patent were granted me October 19, 1875, the arm-standards E, as described in said patent, being prolonged to take a bearing on the floor, become the front legs A, in the patent above referred to, extending only from their junction with the arm- 'standards E to the back frame, become the connecting-links or radius-bars B B in the foregoing specification.

and described. a

What I claim as new, and desire to secure seat D, front legs G G, and arm-rest J J ,con-

by -Letters Patent, is structed substantially as and for the purpose 1. In a folding chair, the connecting-links set forth. or radius-bars B B, forming a connection be- In testimony that I claim the above I have tween the back andthe front legs, as shown hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses,

2. The arm -rests J J, hinged at and forming a connection between .the back and the GEORGE MOALEER. front legs, as shown and described. Witnesses:

3. The combination of the back A, connect- GEO. E. SMITH,

ing-links or radius-bars B B, rear legs G, CHARLES E. SANFORD. 

